TOWN ENCIRCLED

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22244, 13 January 1944, Page 3

TOWN ENCIRCLED

FiGHTING IN ITALY | ALLIES NEAR CASSINO i GERMAN NERVE CENTRE i (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. CopyrJglii) [ (Received Jan. 13, noon) LONDON, Jan. 12 J The latest messages from Algiers j state that the Allied Command in | Italy does not confirm the report j that the Fifth Army has captured ! Cervaro, which remains the central I point of enemy resistance. J The German news agency tonight j reported street fighting in Cervaro. Allied correspondents state that the town is practically surrounded and its fall is expected at any moment, j Stiff fighting is progressing for | high ground overlooking Cervaro, • says Reuter’s correspondent. British j and American infantry, thrusting south from the main road, have I reached Monte Trocchio. A thaw is > setting in along the front and is | causing rivers to rise. Ground conI ditions are again hindering operaj tions. The Germans crossed the Garij gliano river south-east of Castel | Forte and established themselves in houses. Our troops immediately counter-attacked and drove the enemy back across the river. Active patrolling is reported from the Eighth Army front, where the artillery is also busy. Allies Nearing Cassino The Algiers radio commentator stated this morning that the Allied forces are now just under five miles away from Cassino. Having cleared the remnants of the Nazi defenders from the Monte Porchio area the American troops of the Fifth Army are now within a mile of Monte Trocchio, which stands between the main Cassino-Rome road and the j railway. It is the last of the high group lying between the advancing troops of the Fifth Army and Cassino, the nerve centre of the whole German defence network south of the Apennines. Further west British troops have now consolidated their positions following the forcing of the Agoupeccia river. Patrols are again active in the coastal sectors. An official communique states: The advance of the British and American troops on the Fifth Army front continues. Some further high ground was .seized, enemy pockets of resistance cleaned up, and our front line straightened out. Bombed from Air A considerable force of heavy bombers yesterday attacked Piraeus Harbour. Large explosions and several fires were observed. This objective was again bombed last night. Medium bombers attacked the railway junction of Fazriano, in the province of Ancona, and the goods yard at Falconara, three miles north of Ancona. Over the Dalmatian coast fighters hit several enemy vessels. Light bombers again bombed Palena. Fighter bombers ranged over enemy lines of communication, attacking transport and positions at Sora Cerraro and San Telia. A small force of bombers on Monday night attacked iron and steel works at Piombino, causing large explosions. Eleven enemy aircraft were destroyed. Seven of our planes are missing. British destroyers operating off the Adriatic coast of Italy on Sunday night damaged railway trains by gunfire and effectively bombarded San Benedetto. They also hit a schooner and drove it ashore.